Christianity In The Roman Empire

Paganism is a fourth-century term that refers to the population in the Roman empire who practised Polytheism. It is essential to note pagans themselves did not describe themselves using this word, but the Christians coined it during the 4th century. Since the early Christian Church created the definition of paganism, it is somewhat a controversial term. When they invented this word, Christianity was still a minority religion and just shows how much of an impact they were having so early on. Therefore, it is clear, Christianity was growing and had an effect on the life of the Roman empire. In this essay the word pagan will be used to describe the polytheistic people during the 3rd century of the Roman empire; it is not representing one unified
group but rather a group of various types of smaller religious groups who worshipped multiple gods. This essay will try to examine Paganism and Christianity on their own, and what they featured during the 3rd and 4th centuries. Further, a comparison is drawn between the two religions, and a description of what separated them can then be reached. The two most essential factors in Paganism were a sacrifice, and the relationship people had with the gods and goddesses. In Christianity communal prayer and devotion to God, were in strength, of the importance.
Pagan religion in the Roman empire was a diverse community and did not necessarily represent one central organisation based on a system of the rigid system of beliefs.
Paganism, as defined, is a polytheistic religion which means that pagan people worshipped multiple gods and goddesses in a religious context. The religion thrived and was supported by sacrifices and offerings made by individuals in the empire as it showed that the belief in these gods was alive. For the religion to strive, it was necessary for public involvement. The need for public participation is reinforced from the strict calendar of religious days given to the military forces of the empire. As source 1.1 of the textbook shows, the Roman military participated in many religious rites throughout the year. Many of these rituals involved the sacrifice of animals to the gods and showed the emphasis and prominence of supplication. Sacrifice reinforced the idea that the gods the Romans worshipped had powers and were able to affect their human lives on earth. Not only were the military forces of the empire involved in offering to the gods, but everyday citizens would provide in return for aid from gods or
goddesses.
Many citizens of the Roman empire relied on the gods and goddesses for healing. As seen in source 1.9, votive offerings were given with details regarding the healing properties needed by certain individuals. Votive offerings in return for help was a common practice that took place throughout the empire for a multitude of reasons. Citizens thrived on providing power to the gods, and if they were able to attribute healing of some sort to a specific deity, they felt closer in ways to the divine. Both sacrifice and offerings show how vital the relationship between humans and the divine were to pagans. Paganism itself as shown and discussed relied on the belief that these gods existed and had the power to aid humans, therefore if someone believed they were healed by the divine their faith was strengthened.
In contrast, although Paganism was still the majority religion during the 3rd and 4th century of the Roman empire, Christianity was quickly becoming a stronger and more public entity. Christianity during the Roman empire is not the same as the Christianity around today. There was no official set doctrine, and Christians still participated mostly in a private space. What was important to Christians during this time in the Roman empire was communal prayer and devotion to god. Communal prayer was easy to achieve in private away from the eyes of Roman officials. Communal prayer is an opportunity for Christians in the empire to get together in smaller groups and read through scripture that was set and the same for all; they all had the same beliefs and practised in the same way. They would meet in small homes throughout the empire that had been converted into different spaces for religious activities; Source 2.4 shows a depiction of one of these early Christian houses. What Christians achieved through communal prayer was an assurance to the community that they were devoted to the faith, “we nourish our faith with these holy words” (2.1). With an intense devotion to faith came a sign of martyrdom in the 4th century of the empire.
Christians being seen as martyrs became relevant during the Roman empire when they began to persecute and punished for their religion. Christians themselves wanted to be perceived as martyrs because it was proof of their devotion to God and Christianity as a religion. Therefore, being a martyr was, in turn, a large part of early Christianity in the Roman empire. To be considered a martyr however it was necessary to be legally judged and executed by the Roman empire. The need for public execution is why Christianity was more and more apparent in the 3rd and 4th centuries; the Roman officials weren’t intentionally searching them out to punish, the Christians came to them to further show their ultimate devotion to God and their faith. 2.12 and 3.5 in the textbook are prime examples of Christians devoted to standing their ground when it came to their religious beliefs. From this it is explicit Christianity relied on ultimate devotion to the faith to thrive as a minority religion during a time when it was consequently being punished.
When looking at Paganism and Christianity during the 3rd and 4th centuries in Rome, it is clear they differed substantially.
For a basic understanding, Paganism was a polytheistic religion and Christianity even at its roots was a monotheistic religion. This just as a constant comparison can make just clear why these two religions would not be able to thrive in the same setting. As discussed in this paper, Paganism relied and was based heavily on the sacrifices of animals and worship of different gods and goddesses. It also was shaped around the idea that people believed these gods and goddesses existed with powers to affect humans. In comparison, Christians did not believe in sacrifice and instead prayed to a single god. Their religion thrived on communal prayer in a setting where they could share in their devotion, and a stubbornness that would exemplify their faith to the whole empire. Furthermore, it can be drawn that in a sense Paganism was much more of a private religion in comparison to Christianity. Individual in such a way that citizens did not need the whole world to know they had given a votive offering to one particular god or goddesses. In comparison, it was important for Christians to participate in communal activities and have the world see them as devoted Christians. Another central difference between the two ‘religions’ is sacrifice and prayer. Both these concepts were at the groundwork of these faiths and therefore provide a better understanding of each
religion. Sacrifice was the pagan’s way of honouring the gods with animals, and when animals were not used they honoured them with libations. In a sense, these things are primitive in comparison to Christian prayer, which was the Christians way of interacting with their God. It was a less involved way of reaching out and shows the importance of public awareness. In order for Christianity to thrive it was important people knew who was devoted; as shown in the discussion of martyrs in this essay.
As this essay has discussed, Paganism and Christianity during the Roman Empire varied greatly. From the type of way, they interacted with their god(s) to the type of interaction they had in life. Paganism relied on self-knowing while Christianity thrives on public awareness. Stepping away from just a comparison between the two, Christianity’s undoubtedly _____ in public might be why it was able to sustain punishment and persecution and become one of the most well known and participated religions in the 21st century.